INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 149 



is none more trying to them than the forest-fly (Hippo- 

 bosca equina). Attaching themselves to the parts least 

 covered with hair, particularly under the belly between 

 the hind legs, they irritate the quietest horse, and make 

 him kick so as often to hazard the safety of his rider 

 or driver. This singular animal runs sideways or back- 

 wards like a crab ; and, being furnished with an un- 

 usual number of claws, it adheres so firmly that it is not 

 easy to take it off; and even if you succeed in this, its 

 substance is so hard, that by the utmost pressure of your 

 finger and thumb it is difficult to kill it; and if you let 

 it go with life, it will immediately return to the charge. 

 Amongst the insect plagues of horses, I should also 

 have enumerated the larva of Lixus paraplecticus, which 

 Linne considers as the cause of the equine disease, 

 called in Sweden, after the Phellandrium aquaticum, 

 " Stdkra" had not the observations of the accurate De 

 Geer rendered it doubtful whether the insect be at all 

 connected with this malady a . 



Another quadruped contributing greatly to our domes- 

 tic comfort, from which we derive a considerable portion 

 of our animal food, and which, on account of its patient 

 and laborious character when employed in agriculture, is 

 an excellent substitute for the horse, (you will directly 

 perceive I am speaking of the ox, whether male or female,) 

 is also not exempt from insect domination. At certain 

 seasons the whole terrified herd, with their tails in the 

 air, or turned upon their backs, or stiffly stretched out 

 in the direction of the spine, gallop about their pastures, 

 making the country re-echo with their lowings, and find- 

 ing no rest till they get into the water. Their appear- 



a Linn. It. Scand. 182. De Geer, v. 227-30. 



